The new Defender honours the original's boxy charm while delivering comfort and tech the old car never dreamed of.
Rebooting an icon is risky — just ask anyone who remembers the last G-Class before the update. Land Rover has managed to modernise the Defender without sanitising its character.
We spent two weeks with the Defender 110 P300 to test it as both a daily driver and a weekend explorer.
Despite the upright stance and flat windscreen, the Defender is surprisingly easy to live with in Singapore. Visibility is excellent, the turning circle is tight thanks to all-wheel steering, and the Pivi Pro infotainment is a massive step up from JLR systems of old.
Where the Defender truly shines is away from tarmac.
The 110's five-plus-two layout works for occasional third-row use. The boot holds 1,063 litres with five seats up — more than enough for a family holiday.
The Defender 110 is the most capable and most liveable off-roader on sale.
It is expensive and thirsty, but nothing else combines this much character with this much competence.
